Apparatus for the selection of coded elements filed at random

ABSTRACT

A fixed and a movable divider detect and self-adjust to the thickness of a card deck, and grip the cards tightly between them. Whatever the variable distance may be between the dividers when gripping the cards, the movable divider is backed off to a card-releasing position over a further distance which is a constant, such that the deck is always loosened to the same degree without regard to its thickness. A shoe contactor rolls a locking shoe of the movable divider along a trackway to shift the movable divider to its card-releasing position, and by pressure against the shoe locks the movable divider in that position.

United States Patent Inventor Laurence Allan Cross, Jr.

Lambertville, NJ.

App]. No. 840,080

Filed May 9, 1969 Patented Mar. 9, 1970 Assignee Randomatic Data Systems, Inc.

Trenton, NJ.

Division of Ser. No. 438,216, Mar. 9, 1965, Pat. No. 3,486,617, Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 272,485, Apr. 1 l, 1963, now Patent No.

7 3,292,631, Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 280,964, May 16, 1963, now Patent No. 3,303,492, Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 287,275, June 12, 1963, now Patent No. 3,231,186.

APPARATUS FOR THE SELECTION OF CODED ELEMENTS FILED AT RANDOM 9 Claims, 26 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 220/22.5 Int. Cl B65d 25/06 Field of Search 220/22.5, 22.6

fit

[56-] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 807,067 12/ l 905 Falvey 220/22.6 1,497,486 6/1924 Card 220/22.5 2,083,399 6/1937 Rose 220/22.6X 2,463,117 3/1949 Lotter 220/22.5 2,631,590 3/1953 Regenhardt 220/22.5

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney-Sperry and Zoda ABSTRACT: A fixed and a movable divider detect and selfadjust to the thickness of a card deck, and grip the cards tightly between them. Whatever the variable distance may be between the dividers when gripping the cards, the movable divider is backed off to a card-releasing position over a further distance which is a constant, suchthat the deck is always loosened to the same degree without regard to its thickness. A shoe contactor rolls a locking shoe of the movable divider along a trackway to shift the movable divider to its cardreleasing position, and by pressure against the shoe locks the movable divider in that position.

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ATTORNEYS APPARATU8 FOR THE SELECTION OF CODED ELEMENTS FILED AT RANDUM The present application is a division of application Ser. No. 438,216, filed Mar. 9, 1965, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,617.

Said divisional application Ser. No. 438,216, and this application, are continuations-in-part of my copending application Ser. Nos. 272,485 filed Apr. 11, 1963, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,631; 280,964, filed May 16, 1963, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,303,492; and 287,275 filed Jun. 12, 1963, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,186. r

Storing and retrieving information is a field of endeavor that is presently experiencing tremendous growth. The many developments in the art, occurring in rapidly following succession, are testimony in themselves of the great importance which the industrial and business world places upon data processing systems falling in this category.

Those systems of this type in which the information is coded and retained on a card or equivalent cardlike element should meet certain basic requirements. Such a system should permit cards to be coded with maximum speed, ease, and simplicity. It should permit cards to be filed or otherwise stored with maximum speed and case. And, it should produce wanted cards accurately, efficiently, and rapidly.

Many information storage and retrieval systems recently devised do meet the basic tests. However, in order to meet these cardinal requirements, the designers of the equipment have often built some accompanying disadvantages or deficiencies into their apparatus.

For example, in some systems, the cards themselves have metallic shields or armatures that become a drawback should it be desired to process the cards in other ways after removal from their storage positions. Other systems involve the necessity of coding the cards in such a way that they can be easily decoded and read by unauthorized individuals. It may be relatively unimportant, in some situations, whether or not the card can be so read. It is very definitely important in other instances, however, that the code on the card be such as to make it extremely difficult to be solved, and thus read, by unauthorized personnel or even those workers whose regular task it is to store and retrieve the cards.

in still other systems-of which 1 have knowledge, the basic requirements described above have been'met only at the expense of simplicity and compactness of the apparatus. This is obviously a disadvantage. No business or industry can profitably allow equipment to occupy an excessive amount of space, nor can the equipment be profitably used if it is complicated to the point where repairs and maintenance are disturbingly frequent.

Still further, in systems of the type described it is often impossible, except perhaps at great expense, to permit use of the apparatus in a multiple arrangement, operable from a single keyboard or console common to all of the various pieces of equipment. Equipment, in a good design, should be such as to permit a customer to use either one or many information storage and retrieval files, as desired.

A further problem in the art relates to the matter of coding the cards themselves. Reference is not here made to the code per so, which in general should not be such as to permit ready decoding by unauthorized individuals. Rather, the difficulty which has persisted has to do with the provision of well designed apparatus that can be used both for card punching, and also for card storage and retrieval. In many instances, the card punching mechanism has been a completely different machine, constructed at great expense and naturally carrying its own heavy repair arid maintenance requirements.

This is the general background in respect to equipment of this type, and it is proposed in carrying out the invention to eliminate the problems which have heretofore existed.

My copending application Ser. No. 272,485, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,631 covers an apparatus for the storage and retrieval of information. ln carrying out its functions, the apparatus acts upon random-filed cards or equivalent data-carrying elements, coded for selection by keyboard operation. They are selected from the mass, and are quickly produced for use, by a single-cycle operation of the equipment.

As previously noted herein, the present application is a continuation-in-part of the.application identified immediately above, and of my copending application Ser. Nos. 280,964, now U.S. Pat.,No. 3,303,492 and 287,275, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,186. Its main, broad purpose is to improve generally upon the inventions covered by its parent applications.

In a more particular sense, the objects of the present inven tion are the following:

First, to simplify the equipment to the maximum extent;

Second, to allow operation at high speed, for fast retrieval of information;

Third, to sharply reduce errors, jamming, and other malfunctions;

Fourth, to provide a novel divider structure, that will adjust automatically to widely differing card thicknesses and quantities, as well as to different operating conditions occurring in a single cycle;

Fifth, to improve the mechanism that physically selects cards, separates them from unwanted cards, and moves them to positions in which they are readily accessible for use;

Sixth, to design for array of a number of the machines in a group if this should be desired, with :allthe machines in the group to be operated from a single keyboard;

Seventh, to allow use of the apparatus either with or without a card-punching means, thus to, in effect, temporarily convert the apparatus into a card-punching device from its normal card selection and ejection functions; and

Eighth, to' provide an apparatus which, though characterized by a high degree of versatility and efficiency, will be of compact size and form and will cost much less than equivalent equipment that does not do more.

Summarized briefly, the invention includes a file tray having an opening providing access to a quantity of random-filed cards. Dividers separate the cards into readily handled decks to assure minimal surface adhesion and thereby facilitate wanted card selection and ejection. The cards are notched, in a coded configuration covered in my copending application Ser. No. 285,336.

Underlying the several decks is a series of parallel selector slides. By operation of a keyboard to impress upon the equipment a selected code corresponding to that of the desired cards, certain selector slides will be. elevated in a matching configuration.

Cards coded in correspondence with the elevated slides are next freed for gravitation to lowered position, then tilted while the unwanted cards are lifted slightly to clear the ejecting mechanism of the apparatus, and finally shifted laterally for easy manual or mechanical removal.

During the card selection and ejection process, a novel vibrating assembly acts on the cards to minimize surface adhesion and thus free the selected cards for gravitation. The vibrating means is at the same time a cam on which the slides representing the wanted code are biased to an operating position.

Dividers have been previously mentioned. These retain the several decks and adjust automatically to the deck thicknesses. When the machine is off, they grip the decks firmly. When the machine is on standby, they move to open positions in which each deck now occupies a space which is greater by a predetermined amount than the deck thickness, thus minimizing surface adhesion between cards when the ap paratus is being cycled to produce wanted cards. When a cycle reaches its conclusion, the dividers move to sensing positions in which they detect the extent to which the deck has been thinned by removal of wanted cards. They then return to an open spacing, which is adjusted to exceed the new deck thickness by the same predetermined amount mentioned previously herein.

A card-notching mechanism, comprising an improved version of one shown in my copending application Ser. No. 287,275, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,186 is mountable directly within the apparatus. In no way does it interfere with the cardselecting and ejecting functions. Yet, it. is ready at all times for use in punching new cards that are to be added to the files.

The card-punching mechanism can be either assembled in or left out of the apparatus completely, according to the needs of the particular user.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention, showing a single file tray in association with a keyboard;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front end elevational view of the apparatus with the cover removed, as seen from the right of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the equipment with the cover removed, portions being broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, portions being broken away, substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, the selector slides being shown in full lines in a normal, lowered position and in dash lines in a raised use position;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, still further enlarged, taken substantially on line 5**of FIG. 4, with the cards and associated portions of the mechanism being shown in their normal, rest positions between operating cycles of the equipment, portions of the equipment being broken away;

FIGS. 6l0 are views like FIG. 5 showing successively following stages of a single operating cycle;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail view showing one of the selector slides fragmentarily in side elevation, an associated combination vibrating and cam bar being shown in cross section, the full line showing the slide in its normal, latched position and the dash lines showing the same in its released, raised position;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged detail view showing the rear end portion of one of the selector slides in side elevation, in association with a slide return yoke illustrated in transverse section, the full lines showing the slide in its normal, latched position and the dash lines showing the same in its released, raised position;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary, longitudinal, vertical sectional view showing the card-punching mechanism in its normally retracted position, taken substantially on line 13-13 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a view like FIG. 13 showing the card-punching mechanism in its punching position with a card inserted;

FIG. '15 is an enlarged fragmentary, horizontal sectional view on line 15-15 of FIG. 2, showing the transistor and its associated stepping means in rest position;

FIG. 16 is a view like FIG. 15 with the parts in a stepping position;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the rear end portion of the apparatus with the cover removed, taken substantially on line 17-}7 of FIG. I and showing the divider assembly in unlocked position;

FIG. 18 is a view like FIG. 17 in which the divider assembly is locked;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged horizontal section substantially on line 19-19 of FIG. 5 showing the sweeper bar mechanism in its home position;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view substantially on line 20-20 of FIG. 3 showing the sweeper bar operating mechanism in its rest position, and error correction means;

FIG. 21 is a view like FIG. 19 with the sweeper bar retracted from its normal, card-underlying, home position;

FIG. 22 is a view like FIG. 20 with the sweeper bar operating mechanism unlatched to retract the sweeper bar;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section substantially on line 23-23 of FIG. 3, showing the vertical lift bar in its fully lowered position, together with its operating mechanism;

FIG. 24 is a still further enlarged detail sectional view on the same cutting plane as FIG. 23 showing the lift bar operating mechanism;

FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing a portion of the electrical circuitry embodied in the device; and

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of the portion of the circuitry controlling the motor operation and tile tray selection.

In carrying out my invention, l have found it expedient to assemble a plurality of mechanisms, readily identifiable one from another, into a unitary apparatus that produces the desired results. These mechanisms or assemblies are listed below. To facilitate understanding of the invention, I have broken down, in a corresponding manner, the detailed description of the invention, and have added a section explaining the complete operational sequence.

Thus, the description proceeds under the following headings:

1. Support structure;

2. Selector slide assembly and operating mechanism therefor;

3. Sweeper bar assembly;

4. Vertical lift mechanism;

5. Divider assembly;

6. Card punch mechanism;

7. Drive mechanism;

8. Operation: card selection and ejection; and

9. Electrical circuits SUPPORT STRUCTURE In carrying out my invention, I utilize an elongated, approximately rectangular, comparatively shallow file tray generally designated 20, in association with a keyboard generally designated 22. So far as its internal construction is concerned, the keyboard essentially comprises merely an assembly of switches, controlling circuits to various sections of the apparatus. Hence, it will not be further discussed herein except to identify its keys or buttons in relation to the particular components of tray 20 which they control.

Tray 20 includes a housing generally designated 24, having (FIGS. 2 and 4) a flat, rectangular sheet metal base 26 formed along opposite sides thereof with upwardly turned longitudinal flanges 28. A front end plate 30, rear end plate 32, and an open-ended cover 34 having depending sidewalls 35, are removably, fixedly secured to the base to complete the housing.

In the cover, there is a large, rectangular access opening 36 through which cards 37 or equivalent information-bearing elements can be inserted or removed.

Mounted upon the base 26, in a horizontal position elevated slightly above the base, is a flat, rectangular support plate 38. This is approximately coextensive in length with, but is slightly narrower than, the base. Plate 38 is spaced from the base by means of rectangularly-spaced blocks 39. Projecting vertically upwardly from and rigidly secured to the respective side edge portions of the support plate 38 are longitudinally flanged sideplates 40, 42. These are substantially coextensive in length with the support plate. Intermediate the sideplates there is provided a divider or longitudinal partition 43 separating the rear end portion of the housing into a motor compartment and a gear compartment disposed in side-by-side relation.

Fixedly secured to and extending between the sideplates, well inwardly from the front and rear ends of the base plate (see FIG. 3) are transversely disposed front and rear frame panels 44, 46 respectively. Thus, the support plate 38, sideplates 40, 42, and front and rear panels 44, 46 all cooperate in defining a support frame 47 fixedly mounted in the housing 24- on base 26.

SELECTOR SLIDE ASSEMBLY AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR In accordance with the invention, I provide a series of closely-spaced, parallel, flat, elongated selector members 48. These are in the form of slides that extend horizontally, in vertical planes, through the full length of a center compartment 49 of the housing defined between panels 44, 46, and project partially into front and rear compartments SI, 53 respectively. The selector slides are elevated slightly above the base 38 by four selector slide guides 50. The number is not critical.

Guides 543 are affixed to support plate 38 and are spaced longitudinally of the selector slides 48, extending transversely of the support frame 47 normally to the length of the slides. Each guide 50 has uniformly spaced, upwardly opening, deep, narrow guide slots 52, receiving the several slides 48. The slides 48 slide in the direction of their lengths within the guide slots. They can also, as shown in FIG. 6, move upwardly and downwardly within the slots.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and ill, the several slides 48 are formed with downwardly opening cam recesses 54, of shallowly V-shaped form. There are two cam recesses formed in and spaced longitudinally of each slide. Since the several slides are identical, the corresponding cam recesses 54 thereof align transversely of the series of slides, so that there is a front transverse row and a rear transverse row of recesses in the slide series.

Journaled in the sideplates 40, 42 of the support frame are front and rear rotary shafts 56 extending transversely of and below the series of slides 48. In the normal, full line position of the slides 48 shown in FIG. 4 (this being the slide position between operating cycles) the front and rear shafts 56 are respectively seated in the front and rear series of cam recesses 54. When, however, selected slides are to be raised to the dash line position shown in FIG. 4 (as later described herein) the slides so selected are moved forwardly. This causes them to be biased upwardly, as the inclined rear edges of the recesses 54 ride up on the shafts '56. In the final position of slides that have been so moved, the shafts 56 underlie the moved slides immediately rearwardly of the recesses 54 thereof.

' The shafts 56, thus, constitute cam bars that bias the slides upwardly from their normal, rest positions.

The shafts 5 6, however, are also vibrating devices. For this purpose, they are rotated by means of a driving connection extending from a motor 57 mounted on the support frame in rear end compartment 53. The driving connection will be described in detail hereinafter. It is sufficient to note at the present time that each shaft 56 is not perfectly round. Rather, its cross section is best described as basically square with heavily rounded corners.

As a result, when shafts 56 rotate they vibrate the selected or elevated slides 48. This vibratory motion is in turn transmitted to the cards 37 supported in contact with and extending transversely of the series of slides.

Surface adhesion of juxtaposed cards is thus rendered minimal. Therefore, a selected card, in a manner to be made apparent hereinafter, is freed for gravitation to be lowered position in respect to the remaining, unwanted cards.

Again referring to FIG. 4, each. slide is independently spring-loaded for forward movement whenever it is freed for such movement. A crossbar 58 extends transversely of the support frame, being secured fixedly to the support plate 38 approximately medially between the ends of the slides. A plurality of expansion springs 60 are individually associated with the slides 48, and are connected between bar 58 and their associated slides. The springs are under tension effective to bias the slides in a forward direction. However, the slides are normally restrained against forward movement between operating cycles by a transverselyextending, upstanding latch bar 62 (FIG. 4). This extends below the forward end portions of the slides, across the entire series of slides.

The slides are provided, at their front ends, with downwardly opening end recesses 66 of approximately right- ANGULAR CONFIGURATION. These define vertical shoulders 64 normally engaged by the latch bar 62 to restrain the slides against forward movement under the bias of springs 64. The recesses are continued to the forward extremities of the slides 48. At their front ends, there are shallowly V-shaped, downwardly projecting cam projections 63. The cam projections 68 are aligned in a row extending transversely of the slide series, when the slides are in their normal full line positions of In front end compartment 51 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), I provide a transverse row of five uniformly spaced cam plates 70. These are flat, lie in vertical planes, and are movable into coplanar relation with selected slides 48. When so moved, the cam plates lie adjacent the projections 68 of the slides with which the plates have become coincident. If, now, the plates are moved to the left in FIG. 4, they will cam the slides with which they are coplanar upwardly by camming engagement with the projections 68 of said slides. Though this upward slide movement is only slight, it is enough to cause the affected slide to clear latch bar 62. The springs 60secured to the unlatched slides are thus free to contract and will bias the unlatched slides forwardly. As the slides move forwardly they ride up on bars 56 as previously described herein, to the dash-line position of FIG. 4.

Each cam plate 70 is secured to the core 72 of an associated solenoid 74. Normally, the cores are extended under the bias of return springs 75, when the solenoids are in their normally deenergized condition. The energization of the solenoids is controlled by operation of code buttons or keys 76 of keyboard 22. l

There are ten keys, one for each of the digits 0 through 9. Depression .of a selected key 76 impresses on the apparatus the digit'corresponding to that key. Depression of selected keys in a following order impresses a complete, desired, coded number on the apparatus. The number can have six digits or characters in the illustrated equipment, so that it can be as high as 999,999.

It will be understood that six-digit numerical coding has been illustrated and described herein only by way of example. The apparatus, as will be recognized from the following description, can use other than numerical coding (for example, alphabetical). Further, the number of characters can be more or less than the six characters described herein, depending upon the code structure used.

The cards are coded correspondingly. If for instance the number 714,938 is impressed on the apparatus, all cards coded to this number will be produced. How this happens will now be described.

All the solenoids 74 are carried by a slidably mounted carriage generally designated 78, having a bedplate 80 to which the solenoids 74 are affixed. Bedplate 80 is carried by crossbars 82, sliding in slideways 84 of support rails 86 mounted upon the base plate 38.

Referring to FIG. 3, at one end of the carriage 78 the bedplate 80 has an extension on which is mounted a ratchet $8, engaged by a pawl 90. The ratchet has six notches in the present instance. Each notch is associated with corresponding selector slides 48 occurring in each of five groups of slides. Thus, referring to FIG. 5, one sees that there are thirty slides, comprising five groups of six slides each. Each group is acted upon by a particular one of the five solenoids 74. The groups have been designated 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 5, corresponding slides in the several groups have been given the same designation within their groups. Thus, in each group there are slides a, b, c, d, e and f. All slides that are identified by the letter a are corresponding slides, and have the same location within their groups. The same is true for all the slides designated 11, all the slides 0, etc. In a six-digit, coded number, the first slide location (occupied by all the slides a) represents the first digit, the second slide location (occupied by all the slides b) represents the second digit, and so on through slide location f which represents the sixth and final digit. I utilize a modified binary code; so, to select a particular digit-any digit from 0 through 9--I pair selected corresponding slides that are disposed in two predetermined groups, according to a code explained in detail in my copending application Ser. No. 285,336.

Thus, if the coded number 714,938, by way of example, is to be impressed upon the equipment, to produce all random-filed cards hearing this code, the procedure is to first locate all the cam plates 76 in coplanar relation with the slides a of groups 1 through 5. Stated otherwise, the first step is to locate the five solenoids 76 in line with the five slides a. Sincethe first digit of the wanted, complete number is 7," two of the solenoids, so

located, are energized in a predetermined combination. These cause elevation of those slides a which, when paired, represent the numeral 7. For example, let it be assumed that these are the slides a of slide groups 3 and 4.

Normally, between cycles, the solenoids are all in line with the slides a of the several groups, so they will be ready for energization when the first digit is called for as described above.

The next step is to bodily shift all the solenoids, conjointly, to the next slide location. This movement is from right to left, viewing the apparatus as in FIGS. 10 and 15. The cam plates '70 and solenoids 74 will now be in line with all the slides b of the several groups. The digit now to be impressed upon the apparatus is l According to the code as described in my copending application, this involves energizing solenoids associated with groups I and 5. Step by step, the bank of solenoids is advanced from one slide location to the next following slide location until it has acted upon slides at all six locations, in predetermined pairings of corresponding slides, to impress the complete number 714,938 upon the apparatus.

To move all the solenoids from location to location in this way, the carriage 78 is bodily shifted, step by step, through the cooperating action of the ratchet 88 and pawl 90. Pawl 90, normally (between cycles), is engaged in the notch of the ratchet 88, that is furthest from the several selector slides 48. This notch, designated 88a (see FIG. corresponds to slide location a of groups ll through 5. An expansion spring 92 connected between the pawl and the base plate 38 normally biases the pawl into engagement with the ratchet. When the carriage is advanced one step to the next slide location, the pawl, against the restraint of spring-92, moves out of notch 88a and enters the next notch 88b. The carriage is now so located as to position the several cam plates 70 in the next slide location, under all the slides b of the several groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Two of the solenoids 74 are now energized by depression of a selected key 76 to impress the second coded digit (the digit l in the given example 714,938) on the apparatus.

The impression of each digit on the apparatus causes automatic one-step advancement of the carriage to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 15. When it leaves notch 88b, pawl 90 is successively engaged it notches 88c, 88d, 88 e, and 88f, corresponding to slide locations 0, d, e, and f respectively. in each of these positions, another digit is impressed on the apparatus (in the given example, these would be the digits 4, 9, 3," and 8 respectively).

After pawl 90 has entered notch 88f and all components shown in FIG. 15 are ready for return to their normal home positions shown in that FIG. of the drawings, a bellcrank lever (FIGS. I5 and I6) is utilized for returning the translator or carriage 78 to said home position thereof.

The bellcrank 94 is pivoted for horizontal swinging movement about a pin 95 mounted on the baseplate 38. The bellcrank has a long arm that bears against the adjacent end of the translator 78, so that when the translator moves to the left in FIG. I5 from its rest position, it will rotate the bellcrank in a clockwise direction as viewed in this FIG. of the drawing.

Eventually, after the translator has moved to its last position with pawl 90 in notch 88f, the bellcrank is swung in a reverse direction to return the translator to its rest position. This is accomplished by movement of a bar I62 in the direction of the arrow seen in FIG. 15. The bar is so moved at a later stage in the cycle, and as shown, has a reversely extended finger I63 engaging a lug 96 depending from the short arm of the bellcrank to swing the bellcrank counterclockwise in FIG. 15.

The step-by-step advancement of the carriage 78, from its FIG. 15 home position to its final position with pawl 90 in the last notch 88f, is effected by a stepping solenoid 99 mounted on a bracket 98 affixed to support plate 38. Solenoid 99 has a core 100 to which is pivotally connected a laterally swingable, rectangular, pusher plate I01. The outer end of the pusher plate is connected, at the corner of the plate remote from pawl 90, to one end of an expansion spring I02, the other end of which is anchored to support plate 38. Spring 1102, tending to contract, extends the core 100 in the deenergized, normal condition of solenoid F9.

Pawl is provided with a longitudinal slot 104, receiving pin 105 that extends upwardly from bracket plate 98. Pin 105 provides the pivot about which the pawl 9t) swings, between its FIG. I5 home position and its notch-disengaging position shown in FIG. 16.

The end of the pawl remote from the ratchet is reduced to provide a nose 106, and between nose I06 and pivot pin 105, spring 92 is connected, and is tensioned between support plate 38 and pawl 90. Spring 92 thus tends to rotate pawl EM) to a position in engagement with one of the notches of the ratchet 88.

An elongated expansion spring 107 is connected between carriage 78 and the support structure, in a position such as to normally shift the carriage to the left in FIG. 15. The abovedescribed return movement of the carriage under the resetting action of bellcrank 94 is against the force of the spring 107, which is thus placed under its maximum tension when pawl 90 is in the notch 88a.

Each time the carriage is to be advanced one step, solenoid 99 is energized. Energizing of the solenoid 99 occurs simultaneously with energizing of two, selected solenoids 74 for the purpose of elevating the selector slides 48 needed to impress a particular digit on the apparatus during the card selection process described previously herein. This occurs responsive to depression of the appropriate, selected key 76. Depression of a particular key 76 will energize the particular pair of solenoids 74 associated with that key. Regardless of which key 76 is depressed, however, stepping solenoid 99 will be energized simultaneously with the desired pair of solenoids 74.

Accordingly, when the selected solenoids 74 are energized in, for example, slide position a shown in FIG. 5, two of the selector slides will be elevated as previously described herein. At the same time, solenoid 99 will be energized and its core 100 will thus be retracted against the restraint of the spring 102.

The result will be that plate 101 will swing clockwise, viewing the same as in FIG. 15, to engage behind nose 106 of pawl 90.

When, now, the electrical signal produced by depressing key 76 is terminated, the solenoids 74 that were energized responsive to depression of that key will be de energized. Solenoid 99 will also be deenergized, and spring 102 will accordingly be free to contract. This causes pawl 90 to swing clockwise, viewing the same as in FIG. 15, to its FIG. I6 positron.

The instant that the pawl 90 is disengaged from notch 880 spring 92 will tend to shift the pawl in the direction of its length, to the right in FIGS. 15 and 16, so as to move the nose 106 off the pusher plate 101. At the same time, spring 107 is free to contract, and shifts carriage 78 to the left in FIGS. I5 and 16. Spring 92 is simultaneously exerting pull upon the pawl tending to rotate the same counterclockwise in FIG. 16. The pawl thus engages in the next notch 88b.

In practice, this action occurs so rapidly as to be incapable of being followed by the human eye. Pawl 90, though disengaging from each notch in turn, never moves completely out of contact with the ratchet 99. Rather, due to the pull of the springs 92, the awl follows the contour of the serrated edge of the ratchet. Therefore, the carriage 78, under the pull of spring 107, never skips a step, in its movement to the left, in FIG. 316, that is, pawl 90 engages in every notch from 88a through 88f, in succession.

When the pawl moves into the next following notch, the parts are returned to their position as shown in FIG. 15, ready for depression of another one of the keys 76 to repeat the above-described operation in the next following slide location 17, c, d, e, orfas the case may be.

SWEEPER BAR ASSEMBLY Referring to FIGS. 3, -10, and 19, the supporting of cards 37 and their ejection, following selection of the cards in the manner described above, is accomplished as follows:

A sweeper bar assembly generally designated 108 includes an elongated sweeper bar support rail 110 fixedly mounted upon support plate 38. A flat, correspondingly elongated sweeper bar 112 is supported upon rail 111) for transverse movement. Bar 112 is shiftable between its normal position shown in F168. 5, 6, and 10, in which position it supports cards 37 at their right-hand ends, viewing the same as in FIG. 5, and a moved position clear of the cards (FIGS. 79). To guide and limit the movement of the sweeper bar, I provide (FIG. 19) pins 114 secured to the sweeper bar, extending downwardly through transverse slots 116 formed in the sweeper bar support rail 110.

Movement of sweeper bar 112 between its normal position shown in FIG. 5 and its moved position shown in FIG. 7 is effected by an elongated sweeper bar operator 1 18 (FIG. 19) of right-angular cross-section. The sweeper bar operator 118 um derlies rail 110 (FIG. 5). Projecting upwardly from the operator 118 at locations spaced longitudinally thereof are lugs 120 extending through cam slots 122 of bar 112, and through guide slots 124 formed in rail 110. In FIG. 19, bar 112 and operator 118 are in normal position. To move the sweeper bar 112 to its FIG. 7 position, the operator 118 is shifted to the left, viewing the same as in FIG. 19. The extent of this movement is controlled by the length of the slots 124. As the operator 118moves to the left, the lugs 120 bear against one edge of the cam slots 122, so as to bias the sweeper bar 112 to the 4 right in FIG. 5.

The extent of this movement of bar 112 is controlled by a length of the slots 116 of the rail 110. The slots 116, further, insure that the sweeper bar movement will be in a path directly normal to its length.

The movement of the sweeper bar operator 118 to the left in FIG. 19, for the purpose of shifting the sweeper bar 112 to its FIG. 7 position, is caused by contraction of an expansion coil spring 126 connected between the operator 113 and the sideplate 42. Normally, the operator 118 is latched in its FIG. 19 position, with the spring 126 under tension.

In FIG. 20, the sweeper operator 118 is shown in its normally'latched position, so that the sweeper bar 112 would be in its FIG. 5 home position. The operator 118 is held in this position, against the force of the spring 126, by a vertically swingable latch arm 123 pivoted as at 130, at one end, on the support railslide. At its other, free end, the latch arm 128 is cutaway to define a shoulder 132.

A shift link 134, extending substantially vertically adjacent latch arm 125, has, at its lower end, a sliding pivotal connection to the intermediate portion of the latch arm. To provide such connection, link 134 has a short, vertically extending slot 136, receiving pin 138 projecting laterally from arm 128. In the normal rest position of the parts as seen in FIG. 21), the link 134 is pushed downwardly by stub shaft 151 to an extent sufficient to locate pin 138 above the lower end of slot 136.

At its upper end, link 134 is connected to one end of an expansion spring 140, the other end of which is anchored to the sideplate 42. Fixedly secured to the upper end portion of the link 1134, adjacent spring 1411, is an obtusely-angular stop plate 142, projecting beyond the upper end of the link, and extending normally into engagement with the periphery of wheel 143.

Intermediate its ends, link 134 is pivotally connected as at 144 to the outer end of an elongated error control link 1.46, the inner end of which is pivotally connected to the core of an error control solenoid 148.

To the underside of the forward end portion of operator 118 is fixedly secured a transversely extending abutment 1511, which in the latched position of the operator 118 engages the shoulder 132. i

The shift link 134 floats at its upper end, being normally pulled generally upwardly and to the right in FIG. 20 by the spring 141). The movement in an upward direction is limited by engagement of pin 138 against the lower end of slot 136. Movement of the link 134 to the right, at its upper end, is controlled by engagement of the stop plate 142 against the periphery of the wheel 143, with which the stop plate is in slidable contact. Wheel 143 is driven at slow speed, making a single rotation per cycle of operation of the apparatus.

Assuming that the operator 118 is in its normally latched position, at the appropriate time during the cycle it will be unlatched for the purpose of shifting the sweeper bar from its FIG. 5 to its FIG. 7 position. This occurs when wheel 143, during its single slow rotation per cycle, turns to a position in which stub shaft 151 carried thereby bears against the link 134. Further rotation of the wheel in. a counterclockwise direction, viewing the same as in FIG. 20, causes the link 134 to be shifted downwardly by stub shaft 151 against the restraint of the spring .140. Initially, the latch arm 128 will not move downwardly therewith, due to the lost motion connection defined by the slot 136 and pin 138. However, as wheel 143 continues to rotate, eventually the pin 138 will be forced downwardly by the link 134, so as to disengage the shoulder 132 from the abutment 150.

Operator 118 is now free to be pulled to the left in FIGS. 19 and 20 by the spring 126. This causes the sweeper bar 112 to be. moved from its FIG. 5 toits FIG. 7 position.

The operator 118, in its released position, will be disposed as in FIG. 22. In this position of the operator 118, it will be so disposed that a laterally projecting lug I52 carried by its front end will be in the path of movement of the pointed free end of a return arm 154 fixed to the wheel 143 for rotation therewith. As the wheel continues to rotate during its single full turn per cycle, arm 154 will engage lug 152, and against the restraint of spring 126, will shift the operator 118 back to its FIG. 20 positron.

It may be noted, in this connection, that when the operator- 118 is in its released position, its abutment 151) will be disposed in slidable contact with the top edge of the latch arm 128, so as to hold the latch arm in a slightly lowered position. When arm 154 engages lug 152, and begins to move the same to the right in FIG. 22, abutment 150 will slide along the top edge of the arm 128, which will be pulled upwardly against the abutment by the force of spring transmitted through link 134. As soon as the abutment clears the shoulder 132, arm 128 will snap back to its FIG. 21) position, to latch the operator 118 once again in its home or normal position.

It may sometimes happen that during the impression of a complete, coded number on the apparatus, as for example the above-mentioned number 714,938, the user may depress a wrong key 76. In these circumstances, one depresses the reset or error control button 156 (FIG. 1). This energizes the solenoid 148. The core of the solenoid (FIG. 20) is immediately retracted, so that through the medium of the link 146, the shift link 134 is thrown to the left at its upper end, pivoting about the pin 138. The upper end of the link 134 is thus moved out of the path of the stub shaft 151. Under the pull of spring 140, link 134 is instantly, under these circumstances, drawn upwardly at the left of stub shaft 151, viewing the same as in FIG. 20. This is permitted by the lost motion connection defined by pin 138 and slot 136. In effect, the upper end of link 134 travels about stub shaft 151 in a clockwise direction when this occurs. Arm 128, in these circumstances, remains latched with the sweeper operator 118.

The depression of the reset button 156 not only actuates the solenoid 148, but also starts motor 57 and hence cycles the machine without effecting the ejection of the cards.

Thus, whenever the reset button is depressed, the sweeper bar will not be moved from its home position shown in FIG. 5, and this is the reason why the apparatus may be put through the rest of the cycle without ejecting any cards. The user then starts a new cycle by impressing the correct code number upon the apparatus. This time, assuming that a complete, cor- 

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly for holding a quantity of information-bearing elements, comprising: a. a support structure; b. at least one pair of dividers mounted thereon for supporting a deck of said elements, at least one of the dividers being movable toward and away from the other between an elementgripping position in which on sad said one divider is spaced from the other divider a variable distance determined by the thickness of the deck, said one divider being resiliently yieldably biased to said position whereby to automatically biased to said sense said thickness and adjust itself thereto, and an element-releasing position; and c. means for moving said one divider away from the other divider a predetermined distance from the position assumed by said one divider when the dividers are in element-gripping position, said second distance being a constant, thus to locate the dividers in an element-releasing position in which the space between them is equal to the thickness of the deck plus said constant.
 2. In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly for holding a quantity of information-bearing elements, comprising: a. a support structure; b. at least one pair of generally vertical dividers mounted thereon for supporting a deck of said elements in an upright position, one of said dividers being movable and the other being fixed, said one divider being movable with its verticality maintained, toward and away from the first divider between an element-gripping position in which said one divider is spaced from the other divider and a variable distance determined by the thickness of the deck, said one divider being resiliently yieldably biased to said position whereby to automatically sense said thickness and adjust itself thereto, and an element-releasing position; and c. means for moving said one divider away from the other divider a predetermined distance from the position assumed by said one divider when the dividers are in element-gripping position, said second distance being a constant, thus to locate the dividers in an element-releasing position in which the space between them is equal to the thickness of the deck plus said constant.
 3. In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly for holding a quantity of information-bearing elements, comprising: a. a support structure; b. at least one pair of generally vertical dividers mounted thereon for supporting a deck of said elements in an upright position, one of said dividers being movable and the other being fixed, said one divider being movable with its verticality maintained, toward and away from the first divider between an element-gripping position in which said one divider is spaced from the other divider a variable distance determined by the thickness of the deck, and an element-releasing position; c. resilient, yielding means biasing said one divider toward the other divider; whereby said one divider automatically senses said thickness and adjusts itself thereto; and d. means for first moving said one divider away from the other divider against the restraint of the first named means a predetermined distance from the position assumed by said one divider when the dividers are in element-gripping position said second distance being a constant, and then locking the movable divider in the position to which it is moved, away from the fixed divider, thus to locate and retain the dividers in an element-releasing position in which the space between them is equal to the thickness of the deck plus a said constant.
 4. A In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly as in claim 3 wherein said last named means includes: a. at least one locking so shoe on the movable divider; and b. a shoe contactor mounted on said structure for limited movement between unlocking and locking positions, said contactor while moving to its locking position being engaged with and moving the shoe so as to shift the movable divider to its element-releasing position, said contactor remaining in engagement with the shoe when in its locking position to lock the movable divider in said element-releasing position.
 5. In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly as in claim 3 wherein said last named means includes: a. at least one locking shoe rotatably mounted on the movable divider; and b. a shoe contactor mounted on said structure for limited sliding movement between unlocking and locking positions, said contactor while moving to its locking position being engaged with s and moving the shoe so as to shift the movable divider to its element-releasing position, said contactor remaining in engagement with the shoe when in its locking position to lock the movable divider in said element-releasing position.
 6. In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly as in claim 3 wherein said last named means includes: a. at least one roller rotatably mounted on the movable divider; and b. a lock bar mounted on said structure for limited sliding movement between unlocking and locking position, said bar moving in a direction having, for at least part of its travel, both a longitudinal and a transverse component, said bar, while moving to its locking position in said direction, becoming engaged with the roller to rotate the same and shift the movable divider to its element-releasing position, the bar remaining engaged, when in locking position, with the roller to lock the movable divider in said element-releasing position thereof.
 7. In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly as in claim 6 further including: a. a rack mounted on said structure; and b. a pinion carried by the movable divider in mesh with the rack whereby to shift the movable divider between its respective positions responsive to rotation of the pinion on said rack, said roller being rotatable with said pinion.
 8. In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly as in claim 7 further including: a. an arm pivoted on the support structure and connected to said bar for shifting the bar between its locking and unlocking positions responsive to swinging the arm; b. a cam follower on said arm; c. a cam rotatably mounted on the support structure and engaging the follower in one position to which it is rotated to swing the arm in a direction to move the bar to its unlocking position; and d. means for rotating the cam at a predetermined rate for correspondingly predetermining the time at which the bar is to be so moved.
 9. In an apparatus of the class described, a divider assembly as in claim 8 wherein said arm has a second follower and said cam includes a swell engageable by the second follower at a different angular position of the cam, said second follower and dwell cooperating to bias the arm in An opposite direction so as to shift the bar to its locking position. 